Cheltenham confident of safe ground for November fixture despite reservoir drop

An exceptionally dry year in the south-west means Cheltenham's reservoir has been depleted to just 30 per cent of its capacity after the first fixture of the season, but the course is confident about delivering safe ground at its November meeting despite the Met Office forecasting further dry spells.

The track's clerk of the course Jon Pullin said it had been "challenging" preparing the track for the Showcase meeting on Friday and Saturday, but believed the continuing dry spell in the region would not affect future fixtures.

Dan Cooper, clerk of the course at Wincanton, is also "very confident" his course will be able to stage its signature Badger Beers fixture on the first weekend of November.